Because, while he had been leading the Calgary Flames through Sunday morning’s on-ice session, Curtis Glencross and Kris Russell were being examined by doctors.

“We’ll know more (Monday),” Hartley said after practice.

Saturday at Pittsburgh, Glencross hurt his left leg and Russell hurt his left knee. Too, Ladislav Smid slammed chest-first into the end boards.

None of them was on-site Sunday.

However, Glencross’s trouble is serious enough to have dumped him back on the injured-reserve list, where the winger’s already spent 15 games this season with knee damage.

“He’s obviously very disappointed — so is the rest of the organization,” Hartley said. “There’s not much we can do. If you look at (Saturday’s) replay . . . it doesn’t look very good.”

Smid, though, has a chance of suiting up Monday against the visiting St. Louis Blues.

“Smiddy is a warrior,” said Hartley, “and (his injury) is nothing that prevents him from skating.”

And Russell?

No chance. Which creates a massive hole — much larger than his 173 pounds — on the blue line.

“Where would we be without Kris Russell?” said Hartley. “Russ has been a catalyst for us — power play, penalty killing, logging tonnes of minutes. Smart decisions. When’s the last time you can remember a bad play from Kris Russell resulting in a goal? He’s very consistent.

“Obviously, that’s another huge loss.”

Which is to be filled by Chris Breen and Derek Smith, called up Saturday from Abbotsford.

“It’s going to be a battle between Breener and Smitty to get ice time.”

MONAHAN BATTLES ADVERSITY

Rookie Sean Monahan, after being sidelined for six matches with a broken foot, is struggling. The past two contests, the teenage centre’s workload has been held under 10 minutes.

“He was on a high, playing so well, and then he got an injury,” explained Hartley. “Whenever you have a foot injury, basically everything stops. You can do as much upper-body work as you want, (but) you’re not going to get the same conditioning. To ride the bike with a running shoe and a boot (cast)? Well, it’s not the same workout.

“The pace of the league keeps going up and he took a step back. It’s just a normal process to ease him back.”

Hartley, for one, is not fretting.

“He’ll get back in gear — he’s a proud man,” the coach said. “As a kid, he’s showing unbelievable maturity. He’s facing adversity. He’s not happy with his game, but he’s done it in a pro way.”

CHRISTMAS BREAK BECKONS

Once upon a time, NHL teams played games on Dec. 26.

Now? No one is allowed to even practise. The collective bargaining agreement mandates three days off — Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day — for players.

“It scares me,” said Hartley. “It scares me to give three days off to those guys, (then) to come in the next day and play (Dec. 27 against the visiting Edmonton Oilers). I would have wished for another (day to practise). I don’t mind the three days off, but to come in and play a game? I’m just afraid for the players’ safety.”

Any advice for his boys?

“Bring your running shoes and put them under the Christmas tree.”

FLAMES LIVE AND DIE ON THE EDGE

Including Saturday’s shading, the Flames have been involved in 24 one-goal games.

No one has played in more. In fact, only four other teams have reached 20.

“We could’ve won quite a few of those,” said Hartley, whose squad is 11-7-6 in nail-biters. “At the NHL level, you don’t get those moral victories — or those feel-goods — but I give credit to my players. We find a way to be in every game.

“It all comes down to who you have as individuals. The will, the commitment, the discipline. That doesn’t come from the player. That comes from the human being.”

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